The Broncos took outside linebacker Shane Ray in the first round despite concerns about a toe injury and a marijuana possession citation and now they’d like to start working with him on the field.
Ray didn’t take part in the team’s rookie minicamp because of the injury, which has been described as a variation on turf toe, but Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports that Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said this week that he expects the rookie “be able to participate at least some” when the team resumes work on Monday.
Even if Ray is on the field, it’s a good guess that the Broncos will make sure to avoid doing too much too soon. After losing third-round tight end Jeff Heuerman to a torn ACL at minicamp, the team would surely like to do anything they can avoid any other big losses.
Ray seems to be on board with that, saying recently that as much as he wants to be on the field learning a new system and getting to know his teammates, he knows “this is something I have to be smart with and take the proper direction under the medical staff.” We’ll see what their latest directives are when the Broncos get back on the field this week.